Cyclone Maha likely to weaken into depression, Bulbul to intensify into severe storm

The severe cyclonic storm Maha, which is currently over the Arabian Sea, is "very likely" to weaken into a depression by Thursday evening and the Cyclone Bulbul, which is over the Bay of Bengal, may intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

In a bulletin released on Thursday morning at 5:45 am, the weather department said Cyclone Maha has been moving eastwards with a speed of 10 kmph from past six hours.

"The Cyclonic storm Maha lay centred at 02:30 hrs of November 7 over east-central and adjoining northeast the Arabian Seaabout 220 km south-southwest of Porbandar [Gujarat], 190 km west-southwest of Veraval (Gujarat) and 230 km west-southwest of Diu," the IMD said.

The weather department has further said that Cyclone Maha is very likely to move east-northeastwards, weaken into a deep depression over the northeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea during next 12 hours.

"It is very likely to skirt Saurashtra coast and lie centred about 40 kilometers south of Diu around noon of 7th November as a deep depression. Continuing to move east-northeastwards, it is very likely to weaken further into a depression by tomorrow evening," the IMD, in its bulletin, said.

In view of Cyclone Maha weakening into a deep depression today, light to moderate rainfall at many parts of Gujarat with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places are likely over Saurashtra and Gujarat region. The parts of Gujarat that are expected to receive rains include Diu, Junagarh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Surat, Bharuch, Anand, Porbandar and Rajkot during next 24 hours.

Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Bhavnagar, Surat, Bharuch, Anand, Ahmedabad and Vadodara and heavy rainfall at isolated places over Botad and Ahmedabad during subsequent 12 hours.

In Maharashtra, light to moderate rainfall at many places are likely over northernmost districts of Konkan (Palghar and Thane districts) during the next 36 hours.

The IMD has also said that damage is expected over coastal districts of Gujarat (Junagarh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Surat, Bharuch, Anand, Ahmedabad, Botad, Porbandar) and Daman, Diu.

Damages include: Minor damage to loose/unsecured structures, some breaches in Kutcha road, minor damage to Banana trees and near coastal agriculture due to salt spray, damage to ripe paddy crops and minor damage to Kutcha embankments.

CYCLONE BULBUL

The cyclonic storm 'Bulbul' has moved northwards with a speed of six kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 02:30 hrs over east-central and adjoining the southeast Bay of Bengal. "It is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm during the subsequent 36 hours," the IMD said.

The weather department also said that Cyclone Bulbul is very likely to move north-northwestwards towards West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts.

The Andaman and Nicobar islands are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall at most parts during the next 24 hours. Light to moderate rainfall at most places in Odisha is also likely over north coastal districts of Odisha from November 9 and 10. Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places very likely over coastal districts of West Bengal on November 10 and 11, 2019.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government said they have kept a close watch on the cyclonic storm, which is brewing up in the Bay of Bengal.

"As per the IMD report, there is less possibility of cyclonic storm hitting the Odisha coast. However, the clear picture will come out after the formation of the cyclonic storm," said Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena on Wednesday.